Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra led 12th annual International Day of Yoga celebrations in Gurugram on Sunday, June 21,2026. Big crowd turned out,following them eagerly as they demonstrated yoga poses.
This year's theme, "Yoga for Healthy Ageing," stresses yoga's role in active, healthy living at all stages. Shetty,a longtime fitness advocate,praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting yoga in India and abroad . She's proud of yoga's Indian roots and its Western embrace .
“I feel very proud that yoga belongs to India and that people in the West are adopting it,” Shetty remarked.
She credited Modi for boosting yoga in public discourse, encouraging participation through initiatives like Fit India Movement. “The recognition that yoga has received in today's times, it is because of him. I would like to thank him for this,” she added.
Shetty stressed International Yoga Day's importance,urging people to make yoga a daily habit,not just a one-off event. “I feel that this is a wonderful day to make the decision that you should adopt yoga in your life and make it a lifestyle,” she said.
Backing Modi's Fit India Movement,Shetty called for collective efforts to realize its vision of a healthier nation. “The movement of Fit India that he started,that dream,we have to make it come true,” she stated.
As a health advocate, Shetty has consistently touted yoga's benefits through fitness initiatives and social media. She sees yoga not just as exercise but as lifestyle choice. “More than physical fitness, I give more importance to mental fitness. So yoga just keeps you so balanced and so focused,” she explained.
This year's International Day of Yoga theme hits home now as life expectancy rises,focus grows on dignity, health in later years. Celebration reminds of yoga’s power to boost physical health,mental well-being,emotional resilience. But is it enough to change lives…?
